Dual role antenna assembly

a dual-role, antenna technology, applied in the direction of simultaneous aerial operations, electrical equipment, structural forms of the radiation element, etc., can solve the problems of never completely uniform radiation pattern and higher gain in one direction, and achieve the effect of sufficient omnidirectionality and enhanced low elevation angle gain

US10615499B2Active Publication Date: 2020-04-07SKYWAVE MOBILE COMM
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Patents(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2020-04-07

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Abstract

A dual role antenna assembly operable for use with GEO and LEO / MEO satellites has at least two curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas mounted on a ground plane. The antennas have asymmetrical gain patterns favoring certain sectors and are oriented such that the favored sectors of the different antenna face different directions. A controller selects the antenna for connection to an RF front-end in accordance with predetermined performance criteria.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of antenna, and more particularly to a dual role antenna assembly operable for use with use with geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and low earth orbit / medium earth orbit (LEO / MEO) satellite constellations, and to a method of controlling such an antenna.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Designers of mobile satellite communication antenna systems are faced with a number of conflicting system requirements. The link budget benefits from higher gain, but an omnidirectional pattern is best from a system coverage perspective. The antennas should be low profile and yet have good low elevation angle performance. They should also be small and yet have sufficiently wide bandwidth.

[0003] Exploring these trade-offs typically leads to the selection of patch antenna technology if maintaining a low profile is critical, or helical antennas if profile is less important but low elevation angle performance is vital. Furthermore, maintaining lo...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0033]The antenna element 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a curled inverted-F antenna comprising an interrupted curled metal strip 4 mounted or plated on the end of a hollow elliptical cylindrical dielectric form 5 with a closed top 5a having arcuate slits 5b.

[0034]While an elliptical shape illustrated has been found to give good performance, it will be understood that other shapes, such as circular cylindrical, may be employed. The elliptical shape has the added benefit of allowing a more space efficient use of the top side of a printed circuit board.

[0035]A small gap 6 is present between the ends of the interrupted circular metal strip 4. One ground strip 7 and two metal feed strips 8, 9, extend vertically from one end of the metal strip 4. Ground strip 7 is connected to the ground plane provided by the printed circuit board (PCB) 1. The other feed strips 8, 9 correspond to different frequency sub-bands.

[0036]A two-element antenna assembly shown in FIG. 2 comprises a generally rectangular d...